to leave your dog tied up outside

The other day my friend and I were leaving a restaurant and we saw an old dog tied to a post staring intently at the restaurant door. It was very sunny out and the dog had no shade that it could retreat to. Being the animal lover that I am I was appauled and angered that a person would leave an animal tied up in the blazing sun while they went for a leasurely lunch. WTF?!?! So of course I went right back in and asked them to find the owner of the dog and let them know that it was very hot and the dog should be retrieved. They brought the dog a bowl of water and I stayed with it for a couple minutes to see if the owner would come out. Naturally the owner didn't. I had to go back to work so I decided that i would call the restaurant in half an hour to see if the dog was still there. Thankfully it got cloudy and cooler shortly after so I decided not to persue the matter.

I don't understand how anyone can think that leaving a dog, especially an old dog tied up outside is ok! It's not! I can understand if it's a decent temperature outside and you're running into the store for 3 minutes to buy a pack of gum or a drink or something but otherwise....uh, no! If you're not capable or willing to take care of an animal properly, DON'T GET ONE. Crazy concept, I know. Here's a thought: go to the restaurant first and then go home and take your dog for a walk.

You see those dogs tied up outside the grocery store in -25 or +35 degrees weather. Last I checked, grocery shopping can take a good hour. How do you justify leaving a helpless animal in the swelterring heat or the freezing cold? I think that people that mistreat their animals like that should be subject to the same torture. A paw for a paw, if you will.